Production :
Rok / Belarusfilm

Format : 35 mm

Plot synopsis

War drama.
The summer of 1942. The war has
moved away, far off to the east. The
life of the small town where the
German authorities for the region
have set themselves up, is getting
back to «normal». The Germans are
studying Russian, trying to flirt with
the local girls. The women wash the
clothes for the Germans and feed
them, and some begin relations with
their lodgers. They have to carry on
somehow… The teenage son of the
central character tries to run away to
the partisans, blowing up a German
train in order that they take him. The
boy is caught. The Germans have to
execute him in order «to teach the
others a lesson». That’s the order, it
can’t be disobeyed. The Germans
understand that executing the boy
will bring an end to their peaceful
lives. The local commandant understands
this particularly well, as he is
already involved in a close relationship
with the boy’s mother. But he
can’t ignore an order from his commanders
either…